Means for preventing cigarettes from drying out



D. P. LEE

March 10, 1942.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING CIGARETTES FROM DRYING OUT Filed Nov. 13, 1940 INVENTOR .Donhee 2 Lee M I'm ATTORNEY Paten t ed Mar. 10, 1 942 OFFICE MEANS roa PREVENTING crGAaEr'rns mom DRYING OUT.-

Donhee P. Lee, Larchmont, N. Y.

Application November 13, 1940, Serial-No. 365,405

' ,4 Claims.

This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in means for preventing cigarettes from drying out.

The invention proposes a cylindrical shaped container substantially shaped like a cigarette to be engageable in a cigarette package, or cigarette case, in lieu of one of the cigarettes thereof, and provided with moistening means to prevent the cigarettes from drying out.

More specifically, the invention proposes the provision of a water absorbent substance, such as sponge, to be disposed within the container, and an arrangement whereby moisture therefrom may keep the cigarettes fresh.

Still further the invention proposes a novel arrangement for controlling the discharge of the moisture from said container.

The invention also'proposes a novel arrangement for storing liquid in the container which may be used to produce moisture when desired.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a ma- .terial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package with the device for preventing the cigarettes from drying out, substituted for one of the cigarettes.

Fig. 2' is a perspective view of a cigarette case with the means for 'preventingcigarettes from drying out in the case among the group of cigarettes.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the said means, illustrated per se.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

The means for preventing cigarettes from drying out, in accordance with this invention, includes a cylindrical shaped container Ill having a removable top cap H and shaped substantially like a cigarette, to be engageable in a cigarette package 12, in lieu of one of the cigarettes of the package. It is proposed that the cigarette package |2 be opened in the usual manner, by tearing a corner, or end portion I 3 thereof. One cigarette is then slipped from the package and the container I!) together with its contents is inserted the shell Hi. This material preferably comprises into the position which was held by the cigarette just removed. Numerals l0 and H generally indicate the device in the cigarette package l2. Fig. 2 illustrates a conventional cigarette case ll holding a group of cigarettes l 5,'and also holding the means for preventing the cigarettes from drying out, indicated generally by the numerals l0 and II.

A cylindrical shell I6 is disposed within the container I0 and is removable from the top end of the container. This shell l6 has a tapered bottom end II. It has an enlarged top end It comprising a head by which it may be conveniently gripped and removed from the container Ill, when desired. The cap II is threadedly mounted on the top end of the container and encases the head end l8 of the shell. A packing washer I9 is disposed within the cap I I and engages across reference the end 18 of said shell.

A .cup 20 is disposed within the bottom of the container l0 and has a tapered top end portion 21 for receiving the said tapered bottom end IL Packing material 2| is mounted on the adjacent contacting faces of the container ID, the shell l6 and the cup 20. As illustrated, this packing material comprises a layer, or film 22 of sheet rubber mounted upon the outer surface of the shell IS. The side walls of the shell [6' with the covering 22 and the container ill, are formed with aligned perforations 23 adapted to be moved out of alignment when the shell I 6 is shifted, either rotative- 1y or longitudinally.

Means is provided for holding the shell "5 in two longitudinal positions. This means includes a bead 24 formed circumferentially upon the top end of the shell l6 and engaging a circumferential groove 25 formed in the adjacentface of the container ID. This face is' provided .with another groove 26, at a position slightly above the groove 25 adapted to receive the head 24 to hold the shell IS in a longitudinally shifted position.

- Water absorbent material 21 is located within .21 ma now drip through the bottom perforations 23 which are on the 'tapered portion H of the shell l6 and fill the cup 20. The shell i6 is then moved toits bottom position and entraps the liquid in the cup 20. This liquid comprises an auxiliary supply. The cap I l is then reengaged on the container 10. The perdorations 23 are in alignment. This permits moisture from the interior of the shell It to pass through the perforations. The outside of the container I is then dried with a kerchief and is ready to be used by engaging it in a cigarette package as illustrated in Fig. 1, or in a cigarette case as shown in Fig. 2.

If it is found that there is too much water contained by the sponge 21 which is flowing out of the perforations 23, the condition may be remedied by turning the shell it slightly so as to partially close the passages through the perforations 23 by disaligning them. When a large amount of moisture has evaporated from the sponge 21 and the device is not functioning properly to prevent drying of the cigarettes, it is merely necessary that the shell 16 be shifted upwards and the container Ill be turned upside down so that th liquid from the cup 20 may flow through the bottom perforations 23 and remoisten the sponge 21. The shell I0 is then reshifted to its bottom position, the cap H is placed on the top of the container l0, and the article is ready to be used again.

It is to be understood that the removable top cap ll may be securely placed on the cylindrical shaped container l0 without the use of threads, by merely sliding the top cap II on the narrow shoulder of the tubular container III and keeping the same thereon by frictional engagement.

Instead of the cap, any other means may also I be used for keeping the contents of the container lo therein.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the pre-,

cis constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

'1. In a device of the class described, a cylindrically shaped container having a removable top cap and adapted to be engaged in a cigarette package or case, a cylindrically shaped shell slidably engaged partially into said container and containing water absorbing material, said shell and container being formed with aligned openings through which moisture from said material is adapted to pass for humidifying cigarettes, a cup mounted within the bottom of said container acting as a reservoir for water for moistening said material and having a tapered top opening, and a tapered bottom end formed on the bottom of said shell and engaged into the tapered opening of said cup to prevent water from spilling out of said cup, said tapered bottom end of said shell being formed with openings normally closed when said tapered bottom end is engaged into the top opening of said cup, whereby when said material becomes dry said shell may b pulled outwards to disengage its tapered bottom end from the top of said cup to permit said container to be inverted to cause water from said cup to pass through the openings in said tapered bottom end into said shell to remoisten said material.

2. In a device of the class described, a cylindrically shaped container'having a removable top cap and adapted to be engaged in a cigarette package or case, a cylindrically shaped shell slidmounted within the bottom of said container act ing asa reservoir for water for moistening said material and having a tapered top opening, and

' a taperedbottom end formed onthe bottomof said shell and engaged into the tapered top opening of said cup to prevent water from spilling out of said cup, said tapered bottom end of said shell being formed with openings normally closed when said tapered bottom end is engaged into the top opening of said cup, whereby when said material becomes dry said shell may be pulled outwards to disengage its tapered bottom end from the top of said cup to permit said container to be inverted to cause water from said cup to pass through the openings in said tapered bottom end 'into said shell to remoisten said material, said shell having an enlarged headv disposed within said cap and which may be conveniently grasped for moving said shell relative to said container when said cap is moved.

3. In a device of the class described, a cylindrically shaped container having a removable top cap and adapted to be engaged in a cigarette package or case, a cylindrically shaped shell slidably engaged partially .into said container and containing water absorbing material, said'shell and container being formed with aligned openings through which moisture from said material is adapted to pass for humidifying cigarettes, a,

cup mounted within the bottom of said container acting as a reservoir for water for moistening said material and having a tapered top opening, and a tapered bottom end formed on the bottom of said shell and engaged into the tapered top opening of said cup to prevent water from spilling out of said cup, said tapered bottom end of said shell being formed with openings normally closed when said tapered bottom end is engaged into the top opening of said cup, whereby when said material becomes dry said shell may be pulled outwards to disengage its tapered bottom end from the top of said cup to permit said container to be inverted to cause water from said cup to pass through the openings in said tapered bottom end into said shell to remoisten said material, and means for holding said shell in a position relative to said container in which its tapered bottom end will be engaged into or out of the tapered top opening of said cup.

4. In a device of the class described, a cylindrically shaped container having a removable top cap and adapted to be engaged in a cigarette package or case, a cylindrically shaped shell slidably engaged partially into said container and containing water absorbing material, said shell and container being formed with aligned open ings through which moisture from said material is adapted to pass for humidifying cigarettes, a cup mounted within the bottom of said container acting as a reservoir for water for moistening said material and having a tapered top opening, and' to disengage its tapered bottom end from the tom end will be engaged into or out of the tapered topof said cup to permit said container to be top opening of said cup, comprising a head inverted to cause water from said cup to pass 77 formed on one of these parts and selectively enthrough the openings in said tapered bottom end gageable with one of a pair of spaced grooves into said shell toremoisten said material, ,and 5 formed in the other of these parts.

means for holding said shell in a position relative to said container in which its tapered bot- DONHEE P. LEE. 

